BREASTFEEDING IN SCOTLAND

That this House notes that statistics released by NHS Scotland have shown an increase in the number of mothers breastfeeding in Scotland; understands that figures produced by NHS Scotland show that 63 per cent of all babies in Scotland have been breastfed at some point in their lives, with 41 per cent still breastfeeding at the six to eight week stage; further understands that 26 per cent of babies born in the most deprived areas are breastfed, compared to 60 per cent of babies born in the most affluent areas; believes that the historically low uptake in breastfeeding in Scotland is due to systematic problems with poverty and inequality; and commends the efforts made by various organisations to tackle patterns of inequality in infant feeding rates, including the Scottish Government, Unicef Babyfriendly and NHS Scotland.